CyclingTips Digest: Podium Girls, Tour de France, Fantasy Leagues, & More

 I can tell the roadies from the down votes hahaha!

 my man

 @chubbydentist: Yeah...because we have muscle mass and can lift the bike

 double post, sorry

 @chubbydentist: It's not doing - it's not wanting.

 @chubbydentist: you dont know many mountain bikers do you lol

 @chubbydentist: Peter Sagan competed in the OIympics in mountain biking....

 @chubbydentist: ???? Almost any Mountain bike pro who's ridden Moto or bike trials (there's a lot of them!!) wouldn't break a sweat doing that lol. If you think that's impressive you should Google some dudes called Macaskill or Wibmer... Your brains gonna dribble out of your ears!

 @hatchleader: Go easy on him, he's a chubby dentist.

 @chubbydentist: Yoann Barelli posted this recently and the bike probably weighs more than double what that road bike weighs.

www.instagram.com/p/CEQOSQfncH6

Next

 You know how much top Road riders make right? lol Aged out Chris Froome who didn't even get the call for team Ineos for the Tour this year is making 4.5million Euros.
If I was a podium girl I'm taking the guaranteed position of Professional wife of some little horse jockey size road rider lol

 @chubbydentist: didn't he grow up on a BMX bike...

 @h20-50: no, you're getting down voted because its a misogynist joke. The goal is to make the community more welcoming, cycling has always had that problem, especially mtb. You're comment and all the people upvoting it show that there is a long way to go.

 @westbymidwest: No, the people upvoting
understand it’s just a joke, period, end of story.

Btw, I’d look up misogynistic if I were you. Nothing misogynistic about my comment. Not a smidgen of prejudice against women in my comment. Don’t be so sensitive, and go ride your bike.

 I don't think Mountain bikers can do this: www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ

 I personally do not need pretty, busty woman hanging off of me if I ever were to win a competition. It just does not make sense. Now, if my girlfriend want's to come up and kiss me, sure. But I would never be okay with a girl feeling like it's part of her job to kiss or sit and be pretty for a person she doesn't know. It just ain't right. Really though, I want to know what all the actual "podium girls" think. DO you feel like an object. My thoughts don't really matter, I could just walk off the stage without losing my job. Peace, Love, and Puppies. Rosewheel

 @rosemarywheel: You're probably not going to find any podium girls on a pinkbike forum,

however, you could use a job board to run an ad asking to hire podium girls. You could do an interview process, make offers, tell a few they got the job, then come back and tell them "great news, were liberating you from being an object, there will not be podium girls, but you're free to still come and watch the event, you just won't be paid"

Their reaction will tell you what they think.

 @mark4444: Um, thanks for actually making a comment instead of just downvoting. It is nice to know what you actually think. I am not sure what else to say. Are you saying you are neutral on the subject, or trying to make fun of me?

 @mark4444: And I think that too much of today's media tries to focus most people's attention on the outside and not on what really matters, what goes on inside. Most of those Ladies probably enjoy their job's, but the event people do not need to speak to my (*beep-censored*) to make me feel like I am the champ.

I would actually prefer not to have to go on stage at all. You may have all my champagne, if I ever earn any. Cheers!

 @hatchleader: completing the tour is one of the most impressive accomplishments for any athlete in any sport. There is nothing like it in mountain biking. Eddy Merckx is the greatest athlete of all time!!!!! And I’m a dirt jumper, not a road cyclist

 @eyeslide: Read "Finding Ultra" by Rich Roll. I have read it twice, it's a great book. Very inspiring!

 Roadies have more $$$ than mountain bikers. I doubt it. Not as many mountain bikers with amg and 911 careers and land rovers.

 I would love my job if I was a hot girl who got paid to show off my assets while hanging out with the pros

 @Curse-of-the-foot-long-sub: Hmmm, I would rather be a hot girl who is on the podium because I just kicked ass on the course.

 @rosemarywheel: yeah, but becoming a pro racer takes commitment and as im sure you know, a hell of a lot of training
easier ways to get on the podium lol

 @Curse-of-the-foot-long-sub: I have to agree with that!

 @chubbydentist: Don't forget that Sagan was a mountain biker first...

 @jaame: Then again at the end of the day it is up to the organizers to decide whether this old tradition should continue or not. If your career is so dependent on such an organizer and you've got so little input, you'd best either have a backup plan or choose a different career altogether.

That said, sports always has this role model function for the youth. Especially sports events broadcasted across the world. So there you have this prestigious big sports event where the lads ride the bikes and the lasses kiss the winner. It definitely leaves an impression on eight year olds of what they can become, based on what they are now. So it isn't that much about what the athletes and hostesses want to do with their lives but more to ditch the single-sided impression the kids are getting. I feel BMX and MTB has come a long way now, though something like the Rampage is only starting to change. Have your local grassroots event and do what you want, but once it goes on the telly it definitely takes a bit more responsibility.

 @jaame: what you said is very true, but you will get negged to oblivion

 @jaame: i'd argue that the majority of fans arn't bothered if there are podium girls or not. So letting fans decide seems pointless. Its up to the organisers and management (as is their prerogative) whether they have them or not. If the consensus is that most people are not fussed either way, then in the interests of creating a better image of the sport and avoiding possibly contributing to a culture of objectification, the sacrifice of podium girls seems like a suitable decision of little consequence.

for clarity, i mean sacrificing their jobs, not literally sacrificing podium girls to appease the weather gods.

 @blackjack88: good points, well made. That’s the thing that I think is a double standard. It’s fine to have a culture of objectification if the thing we are objectifying is a top level sports player or perhaps someone who was once on tv and is still famous based on absolutely no talent whatsoever. Perhaps I am confusing objectification with idolisation. My question is (not to you just in general) why is it OK to revere people of any kind for pretty much any job, but not models/promo girls? And even if there is a culture of objectification, who does it hurt? From what I can see, it allows some people to get work on the basis of their looks. Unattractive people won’t be looking for work doing that, they will have to use some other skill. What’s the problem? It’s not like the fact that some girls making money by being objectified is preventing other girls from getting jobs based on other skills. Women can make money doing anything men can make money doing. Even make the same money despite not being as good at it in the case
of tennis.

Anyway I can see I’m not going to win this one. I am obviously in a minority.

 It probably is a bit old fashioned to have only girls doing this, and it would be too weird/complicated to try and make it inclusive.. So I respect their decision.

 Thank goodness there's so many white knights on here defending podium girls. I'm sure they really appreciate your support.

 @jaame: Why do you refer to someone's physical appearance as a skill?

 Nah, I didn't mean to say being a model and being paid/appreciated for looks is necessarily a bad thing. We could argue this goes for male bodybuilders, male hollywood actors etc too. The deal here is that with, what could be considered the premier event for this road cycling sports, the way you can participate in it depends on your sex. If you're a guy, you can aspire to race the event. If you're a girl and want to be involved, you can become a hostess. It is this strict differentiation that hurts there. I'd say it would go much less for BMX racing and enduro mtb racing if it would be like the winner would be kissed exclusively by women. A girl watching that could still see multiple ways to be involved. Be riding or be a hostess, there is choice.

Whether they'd stick with the hostesses or not, ideally of course there'd be a womens field in the TdF event. Apparently they haven't managed to realize that. So yeah, to not highlight this strict differentiation of roles at the event, I can get into their decision to at least not make the host role a strictly female affair.

I don't care much about F1 car racing though as far as I understand, it also happens to be a bit of a sausage fest at the moment. In F3 etc women are competing but not quite so in F1. So yeah, same there. Apparently the teams don't manage to train female racers to the top level so ideally they don't have a different role at the same event being performed by women completely.

 @vinay: I’m pretty sure that pro cycling teams would select a female rider if she was good enough. F1 teams would hire female drivers if they were good enough. It’s not sexist, it’s based on the ability to do the job! Perhaps a silly idea, but when I see a woman having a baby, I don’t think “Oh how sexist. That’s not fair! I want it to be more inclusive!” No, I accept that I can’t give birth to the same standard as a woman, and pursue another career that I can excel at. I guess my whole beef with the whole woke thing is the insistence of complaining woke crusaders to change existing institutions that most people are fine with, rather than instituting their own institutions. For example if I wanted to see more males wearing makeup, I think a better way to do do that would be to start my own institution based on men wearing makeup. To me, this would be preferable to going to a women’s makeup institution and complaining until they gave 50% of makeup wearing jobs to men.

 Now here's an idea:

"if we do have to use any flower and medal presenters, why not do what they do in tennis or soccer, and let the future generation of cyclists — kids — come forward and share the stage with their idols?"

From cyclingtips.com/2016/03/opinion-podium-boys-are-no-better-than-podium-girls

 @jaame: First of all let me put straight, it isn't about the sexism for me here. Just about role patterns, any role pattern.

I'm not saying the women should race in the same field as the mens. Just like in BMX and MTB racing, they don't. They may have sections of the course changed (like the women typically have a different second straight in BMX racing) but if the TdF is such a high profile event, women competing in their own edition would benefit from it too. As far as I know, there is no womens event so as such I think it would be unfortunate to have another role at the same event to be exclusively performed by women. I just don't like role patters based on what people are. If you have a full top level basketball competition of tall black men who (let's say) just happen to be best at that game, by all means don't have a crew of short white women sweeping the floor during the breaks. If the competition is single sided, don't have other roles in the same event single sided too. Now I don't think my example of the basketball competition is a current one, just meant to think up an example outside the sex differentiation.

Again same goes for F1 car racing. If these can only find good male drivers then well, it is as it is. Just saying that if it is like that then the organizing body should try to avoid other strict role patterns if they're not that essential. On a side note, I'd be curious whether in car sports where, unlike MX, you don't quite need to muscle a machine around, women could possibly perform on the same level. After all in fighter jets women can actually perform on the same or even on a better level as men (because they typically cope better with G-forces) so I don't quite see how this can't be the case in cars. But again, I'm not really into F1 racing so I'm way out of my depth there.

Back to these hostesses in road cycling. They're getting money so that's good for them. I'm not at any point stating it isn't. Some people apparently enjoy looking at them so that makes it a plus for them too. Young girls watching the event cannot recognize themselves in the athletes and the only role they see for ladies is as hostess. So that sure puts of a good couple of them to become a racer, which is a shame. Obviously most athletes in most sports do some kind of model work even if it is just for their clothing sponsor, so a guy passionate about becoming a model still sees that as a possibilty.

My opinion here is formed quite recently on this initiative by Elliot Jackson. I never realized it, but apparently some black kids drop the aspiration to become mountainbike racers because they see no role models in the current competition. Seeing their role models abundantly in an alternative scene only reinforces that. I can imagine the same goes for girls, dropping the aspiration to become top level cyclists. So yeah, between the hostesses, the people enjoying to see the hostesses and the young girls following their dreams, I'd choose for the young girls following their dreams. Sorry for the hostesses losing their job indeed. But if you consciously choose to make a living off being a public figure, then in part your profession is going to be affected by the needs of this very public.

 @jclnv: the way i see it, podium girls are'nt anything other than an attempt to sexualise what should be a purely congratulatory stage of an event. Aside from all the other arguments, this seems reason enough to just do away with it. I mean, why do we need to be congratulated by big tiddy ladies, other than to appease ego. If you're looking for titillation at the end of the Tdf, i'd argue you're watching the wrong channel.

i don't see anything "woke" about this opinion, it just seems common sense to me, and before you say it, yes i do appreciate sexy women.

 @mi-bike: Legit. The guys are wealthy, and pretty much gods in half of the world. There are tails of girls swapping with others because they like a rider in the green jersey or whatever.

Hell if I wasn’t a decrepit old sack of shit I would kill to be a podium boy for Vos, Van Vleuten, Niewiadoma etc. But then I actually watch women’s cycling unlike the pathetic troglodytes who want to control everything.

 @jaame: A very difficult topic with a lot of conflicting notions.

Grid girls, podium girls etc is objectification. I don't think anyone has argued that it isn't. It is essentially 'a bit of totty' for the blokes, if you'd excuse the expression. That's the easy part.

To counter this, i couldn't disagree that it is a woman's right to choose to be objectified. If they are happy with the role and happier still getting paid to do it, who are we to tell them they shouldn't be.

To muddy the waters further though... the 'bit of totty for the lads' may be keeping blokes happy and the women themselves may be happy earning money fulfilling that role... but does this reinforce the notion of it being 'a man's world' and does this put women off wanting to participate in the sport?

Grid/podium girls are not an essential part of the sport. Proceedings would carry on just as effectivley were it not a part of the sport. As i said above, i respect a person's choice to do this job. But the validity of the role also has to be weighed up against any negative images it may be perpetuating.

I don't have a conclusion as to whether it's right or wrong and i'm not trying to speak on anyone's behalf, just pointing out what i think are things that need to be considered.

Social equality issues aside, wouldn't it be better anyway for the 'podium person' job to be like the mascots in football (or soccerball, depending on which side of the atlantic you live) running out onto the pitch with the teams? Pick kids from the local riding clubs - they get to meet the riders, give them their trophy, have a photo/autograph afterwards etc.

 @vinay: I don’t usually come to Pinkbike for nuanced, thoughtful discussion on gender roles, but that’s what I got. Thanks!

Is there anything wrong with pretty girls presenting awards? No. Should we as a society take a moment to reflect on the roles we’re presenting to young people in relation to their gender and race, and be willing to make some (often minor and insignificant) changes to improve the roles were modeling? Certainly.

I’m really glad there are women out there absolutely killing it on road and mountain bikes. I make a point of watching their videos with my daughter. If biological factors make it so they can’t compete at the highest levels of the sport against men, it’s probably worth changing a ceremony a bit so we don’t suggest that the only role available to them in cycling’s most visible event is being pretty and kissing the winners.

 @jaame: I think it would benefit you to do some reading on the topics you seem to be struggling with here. Sounds like you're open to gaining a better understanding of the issue which is great, but a bro-centric bike website isn't going to provide the education that would hopefully allow you to understand the systemic sexism being promoted by something like podium girls for men's award ceremonies. There is a wealth of information on the internet about male privilege, the various ways it is rooted in our society, how it enforces gender gaps, and what YOU as a male can do to help deconstruct it.

Or you can continue to bask in your ignorance, and thus your privilege.

 @rpdale: Yes, search the internet for how he's wrong. Guess what, you can do that too!

 they should hire Lopes and Kabush to be up on those podiums

 @dthomp325: More podium fights would be legit.

 @vinay: @rpdale: the model works hard, she goes to the gym, she eats a strict diet, spends many hours getting her look perfect. All for the viewing pleasure of both men and women. She may even enjoy what she does. Little does she know she is simply an object of the system contributing to a negative self image that tells little girls "You'll never be able to compete, all you have is your looks." So we decide that we will do away with her profession, and her sacrifice will be for the greater good.

The downhill racer trains daily, does grueling sprint intervals, a strict diet, takes crazy risk doing things that can cause life changing injuries, possibly even death. All for the glory of spectators, it's make no sense, and worse, they might even enjoy it. It sends a message to the youth that you must risk terrible crashes and twisted bones, or you will be a nobody. And we can not have this. Toxic masculinity is at fault and Downhill mountain bikers must make the sacrifice, the sport must be stopped. It will be for the greater good.

The scariest part about is that about 75% of you have been convinced this is correct.

 @mark4444: This is way overboard. You're drawing equivalence between the roles of podium girl and a professional mountain biking athlete in some weird attempt to point out a fallacy in the thinking that podium girls are an outdated tradition. there simply isn't enough parity in the context of the competition since their contribution to the event is wholly different in nature. No 75% of us aren't convinced that is correct, that's straw man argument talk.

 @blackjack88: Contribution to the event is subjective to the individual. If a rider ends up crashing and becoming paralyzed, what was their contribution to the event?

How about asking the relative individuals of both events if they would swap roles? Do you think the podium girls would say “oh I would love to risk my life for $30k a year if I could have a larger contribution to the event”.

Can you think beyond the institutional narrative for a second (and 180 your viewpoint) that the woman who, by simply standing on a podium for a sponsor, is able to add a significant aesthetic to the event is empowering? Every behavioural psychologist on the planet knows the young, attractive, female is by far the most powerful demographic in human society. Who do you think is being objectified/manipulated when a woman stands on the podium? The one who simply stands there, ends up in media photos all over the world, and gets paid to do it? Or the millions of men watching, who briefly see a beautiful woman at a sporting event that could likely never have a relationship with? Who’s really got the power in that situation?

 @jclnv: Interesting perspective!

 @mark4444: They also choose to do it because they enjoy doing something they are good at, and they are paid. Theres no reason to end a sport, you are assuming all of the participants are blind and do not choose to do what they do. Ending the sport is restricting free will, the audience allows people to be paid for doing what they like. I respect your opinion, but I feel like you are going very far overboard with your perspective, and while you do have some very interesting and worthwhile insights, I would recommend you slow down and avoid tunnel vision in order to keep an open mind.

 @jclnv: I have thought about it and i don't care for it. the end of a race is about admiring and rewarding achievement for the feat of skill and strength that's relevant to the sport. Big tiddies aren't relevant in that respect.

"by simply standing on a podium for a sponsor, is able to add a significant aesthetic to the event"

by your own admission that contribution is subjective, and by the looks of it most people don't see it as anything but a nice looking but admittedly old fashioned and unneeded tradition.

So its been dropped.

i'd try get over it. Along with this weird obsession with elevating this podium role to the "most powerful demographic in human society"

Hyperbole.

 @blackjack88: I’m not elevating podium girls, I’m elevating young, attractive, females. You’re either hopelessly naive to that established fact or it makes you feel uncomfortable due to your PC indoctrination. You need to read some evolutionary biology as the arguments you’re putting forward are simply societal ideas, not innate behavioural traits that you can pretend to ignore but will always be there.

I also doubt you’ve never seen a Tour podium because I don’t think I’ve ever seen “big tiddies”.

Indeed it’s been dropped and those women have lost that employment opportunity. Congrats. Maybe you can now get to work on the thousands of instagram models objectifying themselves on a daily basis

 @blackjack88: I should have clarified, the 75% comes from roughly the down votes and up votes of the comments.

 @blackjack88: I think it's worth noting, that perhaps saying the podium girls are simply big tiddies, is not respecting that models work hard at what they do, and take pride in it. Same as a professional racer.

And if you're going to be an authority on what they should be allowed to do, its worth having a deep understanding of what they go through.

 @jclnv: I'm not denying sexual tendancies or the appeal. I've stated before I appreciate sexy women. I just think in the context of a bicycle race Its not necessarily paramount to include the sexiness by having podium girls. Its not a particularly strong opinion, but an opinion I'll happily put forward without labelling everyone who disagrees as trogolodites and naive. You have your opinion, I have mine, mutual respect and all that.

You seem slighted in some way, im sorry if my reasoning has upset you jclnv, but you should learn not to take it so personally, especially when you don't really have a horse in the race (my assumption of course), anybody who disagrees with you is somehow indoctrinated into pc, but I don't see it as black and white as that. Maybe I'm a conservative who simply enjoys the sanctity of professionalism in sport and want to just focus on the skill . But whatever, agree to disagree.

 @mark4444: point taken, that simplification is insensitive, I'll try not to make it.

I'm not trying to be an authority on what women should be aloud to do. All I'm trying to do is defend the organisers decision as a rational one. These girls are free to work hard at their bodies and physique, no one can deny them that. I guess they'll find other roles in more appropriate contexts to do thier thing.

 I just hope for the good of the human race, that most of the negative props are coming from people who are not normal young guys. Sadly, I think they are. Soft cocks, that’s what we will be left with, if the average 18-30 year old man believes most of the garbage written in this thread (not by me).

Any man who thinks brolly girls getting paid to look hot is a bad idea has a screw loose! Podium girls are as important to the sport and the spectacle as the champagne, the flowers, the jerseys and the very podium itself. If the aim is a race to determine the best rider, nothing after the finish line matters. Results can be published on the internet. Why bother with all that other irrelevant stuff at all?

Having hot girls present does not harm anyone except other girls who are jealous of the attention those girls get from men. When I see a hot guy with his shirt off, like the Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Zack Efron in Baywatch, it inspires me to work harder in the gym, to eat clean and to work to be the best me that I can be. I absolutely don’t see it as crass objectification. I see it as motivation. The same should be the case with podium girls. If you’re an unattractive girl reading this, perhaps you’re a little overweight, your hair is dry and frizzy, you love pizza and beer, whatever. Any girl can look good. It’s just about putting in the effort. You can be what you want to be. If you want to look smoking hot, do it! Contrary to popular belief, looking smoking hot is empowering and it does not detract at all from your other skills! If you’re awesome at something, that’s a real credit to you, and I applaud it. If you’re really good at that same thing and smoking hot too, double points score! Bravo! The sky is the limit for you. Same goes for guys too. You can be awesome at something, but awesome and hot too? Bravo!

Reach for the sky on a personal level. Never try to bring others down! Be the best you that you can be. Don’t hate.

 @blackjack88: I don’t know what could be more “appropriate” than a TdF podium!

 @jclnv: All I got from that comment is that you must really struggle to form meaningful relationships with women. I'm sorry that you need the image of attractive women serving successful men at a bike race to feel fulfilled.

 @jaame: What if the person on podium isn't straight? Should they have some male models on standby for these instances? Or would that spoil the divinity of this show of masculinity you seem so infatuated with?

Also sorry for writing so much garbage. Thanks for holding down the thread with your self righteous opinions. Hope you get some of that hard cock you seem to be pining for soon.

 @rpdale: And I’m sorry that self righteous drones who seem to think they’re some kind of arbiter of ethics have cost these women a job.

Still, you know best don’t you. What’s next on your cancel culture tour? Surely there’s no end of things for your fragile minds to be offended by.

 @rpdale: if the rider isn’t straight, should they have some male models on standby? Absolutely! More jobs. People like looking at attractive men as well as attractive women!

Another point that just occurred to me. It is mentioned in the thread that we need more diversity so people from under represented demographics can see themselves represented, feel included, and want to get involved. Without someone of my race or gender on the podium, how could I ever see myself doing that? I disagree with that. Actually I think it’s discriminatory. It is in opposition to the idea that jobs should be given on merit. Employers can not legally choose employees based on age, race or gender. Isn’t the suggestion that we need representation from our age, race or gender on the podium of sports events exactly that kind of discrimination? The woke brigade should not get so hung up on this idea that everyone has to be represented in all things. People should follow their dreams regardless of what other people think of their demographic. Lucky Eminem didn’t stop rapping because he wasn’t black. Lucky Amelia Earhart didn’t decide not to fly because she wasn’t a bloke! Stop holding people back by telling them they can’t participate in something because they don’t fit the right demographic. That’s what true inclusion is about.

 @jclnv: The issue at hand has literally nothing to do with the individual women who choose to be podium girls, and it has nothing to do with women having the right to promote their attractiveness. You keep making all these counter arguments on behalf of the podium girl's well being, as if they aren't simply models that likely take all sorts of different gigs all year long. You really think their only job as a model is to stand on podiums? Let me make this extremely clear:

THE ISSUE IS THE SPORT'S CHOICE TO PORTRAY WOMEN IN A WAY THAT IMPLIES THEY ARE ONLY HERE TO ADMIRE AND SERVE SUCCESSFUL MEN.

Aint nothing wrong with admiring attractive women. I jerk off to the same kind of shit you do.

The scene created by incorporating podium girls is the definition of toxic masculinity. If you don't actually know what that means, I suggest you look it up.

And for the record, I personally take 0 offence to your bullshit. Just doing what I can to hinder mtn. biking culture from becoming nothing but a good ol' boy circle jerk, because the shit you keep writing on here is literally the kind of content that can end up influencing women, people of color, and whoever else from feeling like they are a valued part of this community.

 @jaame: This be very good comment! Why this comment be downvote?

 @rpdale: This is also a very good comment! You simplified and expressed the central issue much better than I could have!

 @rpdale: “only here to admire successful men”. Ah I get it now. I thought they were up their dressed in the colour of the jerseys sponsor they were promoting and their attractiveness draws attention to said sponsor. Damn, if I only I’d realised they were in some kind of slave role, I wouldn’t be enforcing the vile patriarchy.

Holy f*ck what kind of warped world do you live in?

So as I said above, what if you had men in speedos handing on the women’s podium? What would your woke dogma say about that?

 @jclnv: News just in

The Tdf and former podium girls have read your ranting and let me tell you, they're devastated for you. I have a reliable source who says a gaggle of podium girls are en route to your house, to present you with your much needed attention and support.

 @rpdale: Oh wow, you're a bloke. I thought you were a girl to be honest.

 @gutsberserk: Hilarious shit dude. That must be from the woke school of comedy where nothing contentious or potentially offensive is risked for fear of being cancelled by the mob. You see how the agenda sucks the soul and life out of everything?

Funny enough my wife agrees with me. But then again she is a rational person who believes in personal autonomy, rather than utopian societal constructs, dreamt up by woke institutional activists and perpetuated by naive drones who believe they’re saving humanity from various realities.

 @jaame: clever!

 did you say podium girls? where where where?

 Hell yeah

 yuck! kissing before marriage

 @ski-n-bike-da-east: you get it.

 "That's why I never kiss them on the mouth"

-Jayne Cobb

 Welcome to the new politically correct dystopia, where Love and affection is illegal. George Lucas predicted this in THX1138.

 Wrong thread ... ohwait

 @jrocksdh: Like I eluded to above, to encourage growth into an untapped market. We want little girls envisioning themselves on the podium, not kissing the guys who get there. If you want to be a model great, fantastic, that's modern feminism, but that's not our battle and it's not helping more kids get into the sport, kinda has nothing to do with the sport does it.

 Yeah, a couple of beasts just windmilling on the side of the stage.

 i dont mind doing it

 Sign me up, oh wait yeah im skinny and not at all sexy... dang it!

 Europeans are weird

 yes? lol who cares

 We just assume all Europeans are bisexual. On a completely unrelated note, I now want to be yellow jersey guy.

 We need aero DH bikes. Add wings for bigger jumps too.

 @JSTootell: Good idea but would have to add another lever to the handlebar to have them pop out when you get airborne or they would slow you down on the approach.

 Hmm what about they dont get to choose, but they are kissed by their grandmother? Or someone elses grandmother, if theirs is dead.

 ohh.. that makes this make a lot more sense, but the problem isnt with the women, its with sagan overstepping boundaries.

 do you part and head over to onlyfans

 @mariomtblt: is that where you'd direct the now jobless people too?

 was always pointless lol

 The Tour Z France.

 Sexism : prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination, typically against women, on the basis of sex

explain how podium girls fit that description

 I feel so sad for you that podium girls at a road race make you ashamed to be a mtber. Does watching porn make you ashamed to be human?

 @drunknride: I wouldn't feel awesome watching it with my parents or kids.

 @mtb-scotland: not sexist but maybe demeaning to some. tbh I think instead of removing the podium girls, add a couple of shredded dudes packing heat on the women's podiums. that would be hilarious.

 @mtb-scotland: Looks like you grabbed google's definition of the word, which is pretty narrow... The second line of that same definition is "...offensive reminder of the way the culture sees women". I don't feel ashamed seeing stuff like that, but it does make me cringe, like hearing an 80 year old say something racist. I mean, it doesn't have anything to do with the sport and at the very least is pretty dated. I would much rather see some x pro hand out an awards, or some kid who is stoked to meet their idol, basically anything relevant to the actual sport.

 @MartyFluxMcFly: Commenting on his/hers "sense of shame", not watching porn with your parents or kids you Canucklehead.

 Bet you’ve never chatted to a promo girl or a model. They love the job they do. Telling these ladies their job is sexist and demeaning.


@MartyFluxMcFly:

 @drunknride: Are you drunk now? Because that doesn't make any sense. Canucklehead is objectively funny though, I'll give you that. To brake down what you originally wrote, you confused the shame he felt about the comments with his statement about podium girls being sexist. There's a period between those two thoughts. I then, took your incorrect and exaggerated interpretation to a place where it would ridicule your own comment. It's satire, it's confusing, and hard to follow. Canucklehead is more to the point, albeit a bit juvenile.

 @mtb-scotland: One of my friends/acquaintances in Engineering had a side gig where she did that kind of work. Our conversations were probably a bit different than the ones you had, but i did ask her and she did like it. It was an absolute mind F**** seeing her dressed as a red bull girl after being beside her in labs for 3-4 years. But things can be sexist and still enjoyable, they aren't mutually exclusive and I don't think in anyone's version of sexism requires the person to not like it. That being said I bet we both wished we had a proper engineering job at the time.

 when i read the article i feel ashamed, sexist fools are taking away these poor ladies jobs